Sircat Sally brings her front-running game to turf in California Oaks

Freshened since a freakish 12-length win in one mile Soviet Problem Stakes on Dec. 17, Joe Turner’s homebred Sircat Sally will bring her front-running game to a mile on turf as she heads a field of ten sophomore fillies in Saturday’s $200,000 California Oaks at Santa Anita.

In what appears to be a deep and contentious field of California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies, Princess Roi, who comes off a game second place finish at a mile on turf versus open company here on Dec. 29, and Miss Sunset, a rousing 5 ¼ length state-bred stakes winner going six furlongs two starts back, also figure prominently in the 28th running of the Cal Cup Oaks.

SIRCAT SALLY: Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, this dark bay or brown daughter of Surf Cat is undefeated in two starts and will be trying turf for the first time on Saturday. Dispatched at odds of 1-2 in her Soviet Problem score at Los Alamitos, she was 7-2 first time out in a six furlong Cal-bred maiden special weight race on Nov. 20 at Del Mar—a race she took in virtual gate to wire fashion by five lengths. She can be counted on to show plenty of early zip in the Oaks as she shoots for her third consecutive win.

PRINCESS ROI: A one length, gate to wire winner at a mile turf two starts back at Del Mar on Nov. 17, she ran the best race of her career in Santa Anita’s one mile turf Blue Norther Stakes on Dec. 29, as she battled back gamely at the rail under Corey Nakatani, finishing second, beaten a head, while getting a career-top Beyer Speed figure of 72. By Roi Charmant, she was bred in California by GGG Stables and is owned by GGG and Russell Sarno. Trained by Richard Baltas, she has a win and three seconds from four overall starts.

MISS SUNSET: A winner of her first two starts at Del Mar last summer, including a crushing 5 ¼ length win at odds of 1-2 in the six furlong Generous Portion Stakes on Aug. 27, she made her third start here on Jan. 13, and lost all chance shortly after the start. Off at 2-1 against open company in a 6 ½ furlong allowance run over a muddy main track, Miss Sunset jumped tire tracks coming out of the seven furlong chute, causing her to completely lose her action and resulting in a last place finish. Bred by Premier Thoroughbreds, LLC and Alan Klein, she’s owned by Klein and Phillip Lebherz. A daughter of Into Mischief, Miss Sunset is trained by Jeff Bonde and can be counted on to show plenty of speed in her first try at two turns and turf.

THE CALIFORNIA CUP OAKS IN POST POSITION WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

Race 5 of 10 Approximate post time 1:50 p.m. PST

1.   Cash Prize—Chantal Sutherland—119

2.   Cioppino Pasadino—Joe Talamo—119

3.   How About Zero—Mario Gutierrez—123

4.   Bella Luma—Rafael Bejarano—119

5.   Adios Cali—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—119

6.   Ms Wakaya—Kent Desormeaux—119

7.   Miss Sunset—Martin Garcia—123

8.   My Pi Romancer—Flavien Prat--119

9.   Sircat Sally—Drayden Van Dyke—123

10. Princess Roi—Corey Nakatani—119